Cott (1998) outlines several assumptions
underpinning the emphasis on the necessity
of the palliative care interdisciplinary
team. Firstly, there is the assumption that
team members have a shared understanding
of roles, norms and values within
the team; secondly, that the team functions
in an egalitarian, cooperative interdependent
manner, and thirdly that the
combined effects of shared, cooperative
decision making are of greater benefit to
the patient than the individual effects of
the disciplines on their own. Opie (1997)
argues that these assumptions are not necessarily
borne out in reality and a team
approach may not be the optimal way to
manage complex cases. In light of Opie's
argument, it is prudent to examine what
the barriers are to effective interdisciplinary
team operation.